The National Security Advisor of India recently held a discussion with their U.S counterpart, marking the first dialogue on Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). This meeting held in the US symbolizes an important step towards a productive partnership between the two nations in the field of technology.
One of the key topics discussed was the nearing completion of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) earth observation satellite. This impactful project is a testament to how fruitful the alliance between the U.S and India can be not only for the countries themselves, but also for the world.
The iCET Initiative
The iCET initiative is a bilateral effort that was launched by India and the U.S in May 2022. It’s supervised by the National Security Councils of the two nations. The initiative aims to cooperate in six different spheres, expecting to gradually broaden its scope from QUAD to NATO, to Europe, and finally, to the entire world.
Under the iCET program, India has expressed its willingness to share its core technologies with the U.S, anticipating a reciprocal gesture from Washington as well.
Six Areas of Cooperation
The areas targeted for collaboration under the iCET initiative are comprised of scientific research and development, quantum and artificial intelligence, defense innovation, advanced space technology, and next-generation telecommunications such as 6G and semiconductors.
These fields represent some of the most promising and critical sectors of technology today, and joint efforts in these areas could potentially yield significant advancements.
Significance of iCET
The iCET initiative aims to strengthen connections between the governments, academic institutions, and industries of both the U.S and India. The ultimate goal is to deliver affordable, cutting-edge technologies to the rest of the world.
This ambitious dialogue marks a significant alignment in strategic, commercial, and scientific approaches between the two nations in technology. This alignment is also expected to be reflected in the progression of Quad, an informal association comprising Australia, Japan, India, and the United States.
Role of National Security Advisor in India
The National Security Advisor (NSA), currently held by Ajit Doval, serves as the primary advisor to the Prime Minister of India. The NSA presides over the National Security Council (NSC), an organization responsible for overseeing political, economic, energy, and security issues of strategic importance.
Established in 1998, the NSC deliberates on all aspects of national security. It operates within the executive office of the Prime Minister, acting as the liaison between the government’s executive branch and intelligence services.